Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Joe Rogan

Public opinion and media debates around Joe Rogan—discover key moments of controversy.

Joe Rogan is a multifaceted American personality renowned for his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. He is also a comedian, UFC color commentator, actor, and former television host. His podcast is known for its long-form interviews covering a wide range of topics, including current events, comedy, popular culture, politics, science, and philosophy. With a large and influential audience, Rogan's podcast has become a prominent platform for discussions and interviews with diverse guests. He is considered a major influencer in modern media and podcasting.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1993: Accusation of Carlos Mencia since 1993

Since 1993, Joe Rogan accused Carlos Mencia of joke thievery.

2005: Accusation of Carlos Mencia

In 2005, Joe Rogan wrote a blog entry accusing comedian Carlos Mencia of joke thievery.

February 2007: Confronted Carlos Mencia on stage

In February 2007, Joe Rogan confronted Carlos Mencia on stage at The Comedy Store in Hollywood, leading to consequences with his talent agency and venue.

2010: Accusation of Joke Thievery

In 2010, Joe Rogan publicly accused comedian Dane Cook of stealing jokes, sparking controversy within the comedy community.

April 2021: Contentious Remarks About COVID-19 Vaccines

In April 2021, Joe Rogan made contentious remarks about COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that young, healthy people don't need to be vaccinated. His views were criticized by Anthony Fauci and White House officials, leading Rogan to acknowledge "some legitimate science" behind Fauci's view.

January 2022: Open Letter from Scientists

In January 2022, 270 scientists, physicians, and healthcare workers wrote an open letter to Spotify, expressing concern over "false and societally harmful assertions" on 'The Joe Rogan Experience'. They asked Spotify to establish a policy to moderate misinformation, specifically regarding a controversial episode featuring Robert W. Malone.

January 24, 2022: Neil Young's Open Letter

On January 24, 2022, Neil Young posted an open letter demanding that Spotify remove his music if they didn't remove 'The Joe Rogan Experience', citing a responsibility to mitigate misinformation. Spotify subsequently removed Young's music.

February 4, 2022: Spotify Removes 70 Joe Rogan Episodes

On February 4, 2022, Spotify removed 70 episodes of Joe Rogan's podcast, all predating the COVID-19 pandemic, after discussions with Rogan about his past use of racially insensitive language.

February 2022: Spotify Removes Episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience

In February 2022, Spotify removed 113 episodes of 'The Joe Rogan Experience' due to concerns over racist and insensitive language in some episodes.

February 2022: Controversy Over Racial Slur

In February 2022, singer India Arie shared a compilation of Joe Rogan saying the racial slur "nigger" on 'The Joe Rogan Experience' on Instagram. Rogan apologized, describing his past language as "regretful and shameful", but also stated that the clips were taken out of context. This led to debate over a defamation attempt, with numerous UFC fighters defending Rogan.

April 2022: Remarks on Transgender Athletes

In April 2022, Joe Rogan made outspoken comments about transgender women competing in women's sports. He criticized transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and transgender martial arts artist Fallon Fox.

October 2022: Sharing of Litter Boxes in Schools Hoax

In October 2022, Joe Rogan shared the discredited litter boxes in schools hoax, claiming that schools were providing litter boxes to students who dress as cats. He later admitted there was no proof of this, but falsely claimed discussions were held on the topic.

February 2023: Comments on Jewish People and Money

In February 2023, Joe Rogan stated on his podcast that the "idea that Jewish people are not into money is ridiculous," comparing it to saying Italians aren't into pizza. His comments were in defense of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League condemned Rogan's comment as reflecting "antisemitic tropes about Jews and money."

February 2024: Promotion of Debunked Claims About AIDS

During a February 2024 podcast with Bret Weinstein, Joe Rogan promoted the debunked claim that party drugs such as poppers were a significant factor in AIDS, and falsely claimed that the antiviral drug AZT killed people faster than AIDS itself. They also praised AIDS denialist Peter Duesberg. The American Foundation for AIDS Research criticized the podcast for disseminating false information.

March 2024: Comments on Israel's Actions in Gaza

In March 2024, Joe Rogan described Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip as a "genocide". Later that month, Rogan discussed the topic with writer Coleman Hughes, expressing appreciation for Hughes' counter perspective and acknowledging Hughes' greater knowledge on the subject.

April 2024: Lawsuit Filed Against Onnit

In April 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Onnit, alleging that its 'Alpha BRAIN' supplement was ineffective compared to a placebo and was advertised with "false, misleading and deceptive advertising".

November 2024: Comments on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In November 2024, Joe Rogan stated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was "100% wrong." He criticized US President Joe Biden for allowing Ukraine to strike mainland Russia with US-supplied missiles. He also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, leading to a response from Wladimir Klitschko.